One Way or Another

A Missing Ingredient, A Name Game and A Retaliation

"Promise me that you won't go out as Ladybug."

Marinette nodded. "I promise."

A sigh of relief. "Thank you, Princess." Then he leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss. "Thank you. This will just be temporary."

"I know," she replied quietly. Then she reached down, grabbed his hand, and placed it on her stomach.

"I don't want to hurt you," he protested, trying to pull his hand back.

"You're not. It's okay," she insisted, keeping his hand there.

And he smiled. After a minute he asked a question. "Have you felt the baby kick yet?"

"No, not yet. I think it's too early for that. He's still so tiny."

He smiled wider, his eyes locked on hers.

"Do you think we should make an announcement to the public?" Marinette continued. "You know, since I'm almost four months along now? I won't be able to hide the pregnancy much longer."

"Let's wait a little more. Fashion Week is almost here, and I want everyone focused on your incredible talents, Princess. We don't want everyone distracted by the announcement of your pregnancy yet."

"Distracted?"

"You know the press is going to go crazy when they find out. They've been asking me when we're going to have a kid in every single interview I've had since we got married."

She laughed. "I didn't know our reproduction was such an interesting topic of discussion."

"Yeah, who would have guessed?" he joked.

A moment passed as they finished laughing. "Well, I for one can't wait to tell the world that we're expecting a baby," Marinette said.

"You know I feel the same. But let's just wait a little more. When Fashion Week is over, I promise that we'll make the announcement."

"Alright, that sounds reasonable." A sigh. "I can't believe I'm almost four months already. Before we know it, the baby will be here with us. We'll have to start thinking of names."

"Yeah, I guess we do."

She nodded. "What do you think about naming him after you? Adrien Agreste Junior. Such a lovely name, don't you think?"

His smile disappeared. "No. I don't want him named after me."

And her smile disappeared too. "But... why not?" she replied, confused.

Adrien didn't want to explain the exact reason. So he bent the truth. "I just think that he should have his own name, that's all. If that's okay with you, of course."

"Of course it's okay with me. But, are you sure that's what you want?"

"Yes, I'm sure. And don't worry, we'll find a great name for him. Hey, what about Griffin?" he added with a smirk. "I know you've always been a fan of that name."

And Marinette laughed again. "We're not naming the baby after our pet hamster. That's so weird!"

Adrien laughed too. "Oh come on! That was originally my nickname. So the baby would technically still be named after me."

"Absolutely not!" she laughed.

They chuckled together before Adrien conceded. "Alright, alright. You know that I was just joking anyway."

"Yeah, I know."

"But seriously, have you thought about other names?" Adrien asked.

"Only a little," she said with a yawn.